1
忌少聰敏，有識量，頗涉史傳，為當時所稱。 解褐梁豫章王法曹參軍。 侯景之亂，忌招集勇力，隨高祖征討，累功為寧遠將軍。 及高祖誅王僧辯，僧辯弟僧智舉兵據吳郡，高祖遣黃他率眾攻之，僧智出兵於西昌門拒戰，他與相持，不能克。 高祖謂忌曰：「三吳奧壤，舊稱饒沃，雖凶荒之餘，猶為殷盛，而今賊徒扇聚，天下搖心，非公無以定之，宜善思其策。」 忌乃勒部下精兵，輕行倍道，自錢塘直趣吳郡，〔一〕夜至城下，鼓譟薄之。 僧智疑大軍至，輕舟奔杜龕，忌入據其郡。 高祖嘉之，表授吳郡太守。
As a youth Ji was quick and perceptive, with sound judgment; he had dipped deep into histories and won praise in his day. His first post was law officer on the staff of Liang's Prince of Yuzhang. When Hou Jing rebelled Ji raised fighting men and marched with the Founder. Merit piled up until he was made pacifying-distance general. After the Founder killed Wang Sengbian, Sengbian's brother Sengzhi seized Wu commandery. The Founder sent Huang Ta with an army against him. Sengzhi marched out the Xichang Gate to fight. Ta held him at bay and could not break him. The Founder told Ji: "The Three Wu are the empire's rich core. Even after famine they stay prosperous, yet rebels now gather and the realm wavers. No one but you can settle this. Think hard on your plan." Ji mustered his best troops, traveled light at forced march from Qiantang straight for Wu commandery, [1] and in a single night was under the walls beating drums and storming the gate. Sengzhi thought a great host had arrived, fled by light boat to Du Kan, and Ji entered and took the commandery. The Founder praised him and memorialized his appointment as administrator of Wu commandery.
2
高祖受禪，徵為左衛將軍。 天嘉初，出為持節、南康內史。 時義安太守張紹賓據郡反，世祖以忌為持節、都督嶺北諸軍事，率眾討平之。 還除散騎常侍、司徒左長史。 五年，授雲麾將軍、衛尉卿，封東興縣侯，邑六百戶。
When the Founder took the throne Ji was summoned as left guard general. At the opening of Tiancheng (560) he was sent out as bearer of the staff and interior minister of Nankang. Zhang Shaobin, administrator of Yian, rebelled and held his commandery. Emperor Wen made Ji bearer of the staff and commander of the armies north of the range, and he led troops to crush him. Returning, he was made scattered-cavalry regular attendant and left chief clerk of the Secretariat. In the fifth year he was made cloud-banner general and chamberlain for the palace, and enfeoffed as Marquis of Dongxing with six hundred households.
3
及華皎稱兵上流，高宗時為錄尚書輔政，盡命眾軍出討，委忌總知中外城防諸軍事。 及皎平，高宗即位，太建元年，授東陽太守，改封樂安縣侯，邑一千戶。 四年，入為太府卿。 五年，轉都官尚書。
When Hua Jiao rebelled upriver, Emperor Xuan was regent as recorder of the Secretariat. He sent every army against Jiao and put Ji in charge of all city defenses, within and without. After Jiao fell, Emperor Xuan succeeded. In the first year of Taijian (569) Ji was made administrator of Dongyang and re-enfeoffed as Marquis of Le'an with one thousand households. In the fourth year he entered court as grand steward. In the fifth year he was transferred to minister of justice.
4
吳明徹督眾軍北伐，詔忌以本官監明徹軍。 淮南平，授軍師將軍、豫州刺史。 忌善於綏撫，甚得民和。 改授使持節、都督譙州諸軍事、譙州刺史。 未及之官，會明徹受詔進討彭、汴，以忌為都督，與明徹掎角俱進。 呂梁軍敗，陷于周，周授上開府。 隋開皇十四年卒於長安，時年七十三。
Wu Mingche led the northern campaign. An edict made Ji, in his existing post, overseer of Mingche's army. When Huainan was pacified he was made army-master general and inspector of Yu. Ji was skilled at winning people over and enjoyed deep goodwill among them. He was reassigned bearer of the staff, commander of Qiao province, and inspector of Qiao. Before he took up office, Mingche was ordered to strike Peng and Bian. Ji was made commander and marched in pincer with him. The army was broken at Lüliang and he fell into Zhou hands. Zhou made him senior opening general. In Kaihuang year 14 of Sui (594) he died at Chang'an, aged seventy-three.
5
孫瑒字德璉，吳郡吳人也。 祖文惠，齊越騎校尉、清遠太守。 父循道，〔二〕梁中散大夫，以雅素知名。
Sun Yang, styled Delian, came from Wu in Wu commandery. His grandfather Wenhui had been Qi colonel of the Yue cavalry and administrator of Qingyuan. His father Xundao [2] was a Liang palace attendant, known for refined simplicity.
6
瑒少倜儻，好謀略，博涉經史，尤便書翰。 起家梁輕車臨川嗣王行參軍，累遷為安西邵陵王水曹中兵參軍事。 王出鎮郢州，瑒盡室隨府，甚被賞遇。 太清之難，授假節、宣猛將軍、軍主。 王僧辯之討侯景也，王琳為前軍，琳與瑒同門，乃表薦為戎昭將軍、宜都太守，仍從僧辯救徐文盛於武昌。 會郢州陷，乃留軍鎮巴陵，脩戰守之備。 俄而侯景兵至，日夜攻圍，瑒督所部兵悉力拒戰，賊眾奔退。 瑒從大軍沿流而下，及克姑熟，瑒力戰有功，除員外散騎常侍，封富陽縣侯，邑一千戶。 尋授假節、雄信將軍、衡陽內史，未及之官，仍遷衡州平南府司馬。 破黃洞蠻賊有功，除東莞太守，行廣州刺史。 尋除智武將軍，監湘州事。 敬帝嗣位，授持節、仁威將軍、巴州刺史。
As a youth Yang was bold and fond of strategy; he read widely in the classics and histories and excelled at correspondence. He entered service as acting aide to Liang's Heir of Linchuan in the light-chariot office, then rose to water-and-arms clerk on the military staff of the Prince of Shao-ling, pacifier of the west. When the prince took up his post at Yingzhou, Yang brought his whole household to the headquarters and won high favor. In the Taiping turmoil he received acting credentials as fierce-martial general and army commander. When Wang Sengbian attacked Hou Jing, Wang Lin led the van. Lin and Yang were schoolmates; Lin recommended him as martial-announcements general and administrator of Yidu, and he followed Sengbian to relieve Xu Wensheng at Wuchang. When Yingzhou fell he stayed behind to hold Baling and strengthened its defenses. Soon Hou Jing's troops came and besieged him day and night. Yang led his men in a full defense and drove the rebels back. He followed the main fleet downstream. At the taking of Guni he fought with distinction and was made supernumerary scattered-cavalry regular attendant and Marquis of Fuyang with one thousand households. Soon he received acting staff as trustworthy-faith general and interior minister of Hengyang. Before he took office he was made marshal of the pacify-the-south headquarters in Heng province. For breaking the Yellow-Cave rebels he was made administrator of Dongguan and acting administrator of Guangzhou. Soon he was made intelligent-martial general and overseer of Xiang province. When the Honored Emperor succeeded he received the staff as benevolent-prestige general and administrator of Ba.
7
高祖受禪，王琳立梁永嘉王蕭莊於郢州，徵瑒為太府卿，〔三〕加通直散騎常侍。 及王琳入寇，以瑒為使持節、散騎常侍、都督郢荊巴武湘五州諸軍事、安西將軍、郢州刺史，總留府之任。 周遣大將史寧率眾四萬，乘虛奄至，瑒助防張世〔貴〕舉外城以應之〔四〕，所失軍民男女三千餘口。 周軍又起土山高梯，日夜攻逼，因風縱火，燒其內城南面五十餘樓。 時瑒兵不滿千人，乘城拒守，瑒親自撫巡，行酒賦食，士卒皆為之用命。 周人苦攻不能克，乃矯授瑒柱國、郢州刺史，封萬戶郡公。 瑒偽許以緩之，而潛修戰具，樓雉器械，一朝嚴設，周人甚憚焉。 及聞大軍敗王琳，乘勝而進，周兵乃解。 瑒於是盡有中流之地，集其將士而謂之曰：「吾與王公陳力協義，同獎梁室，亦已勤矣。 今時事如此，天可違乎！」 遂遣使奉表詣闕。
When the Founder took the throne, Wang Lin enthroned Liang's Prince of Yongjia Xiao Zhuang at Yingzhou. Yang was summoned as grand steward [3] and promoted to direct-communication scattered-cavalry regular attendant. When Wang Lin invaded, Yang was made bearer of the staff, scattered-cavalry regular attendant, commander of Ying, Jing, Ba, Wu, and Xiang, pacifying-the-west general and inspector of Ying, with full charge of the rear headquarters. Zhou sent the great general Shi Ning with forty thousand men in a sudden rush. Yang's assistant defender Zhang Shi [Gui] opened the outer city to them. [4] More than three thousand soldiers and civilians, men and women, were lost. The Zhou army raised siege mounds and scaling ladders and pressed day and night. They used the wind to fire the inner city's southern face and burned more than fifty towers. Yang had fewer than a thousand men. He held the walls himself, walking the battlements with wine and food. Every soldier fought for him to the last. The Zhou attacked hard and failed. They then falsely invested him as pillar of state, inspector of Ying, and duke of a ten-thousand-household commandery. Yang feigned acceptance to buy time while secretly readying arms. Towers, parapets, and engines stood complete by morning, and the Zhou were deeply afraid. When word came that the main army had broken Wang Lin and was marching in triumph, the Zhou lifted the siege. Yang then held the entire mid-Yangzi. He assembled his officers and said: "We served the princes in righteousness and upheld Liang together. We have labored long enough. The times stand as they do. Who defies Heaven?" He sent envoys with a memorial to court.
8
天嘉元年，授使持節、散騎常侍、安南將軍、湘州刺史，封定襄縣侯，邑一千戶。 瑒懷不自安，乃固請入朝，徵為散騎常侍、中領軍。 〔五〕未拜，而世祖從容謂瑒曰：「昔朱買臣願為本郡，卿豈有意乎？」 仍改授持節、安東將軍、吳郡太守，給鼓吹一部。 及將之鎮，乘輿幸近畿餞送，鄉里榮之。 秩滿，徵拜散騎常侍、中護軍，鼓吹如故。 留異之反東陽，詔瑒督舟師進討。 異平，遷鎮右將軍，常侍、鼓吹並如故。 頃之，出為使持節、安東將軍、建安太守。 光大中，以公事免，尋起為通直散騎常侍。
In the first year of Tiancheng (560) he was made bearer of the staff, scattered-cavalry regular attendant, pacifying-the-south general and inspector of Xiang, and enfeoffed as Marquis of Dingxiang with one thousand households. Yang could not rest easy and begged to come to court. He was summoned as scattered-cavalry regular attendant and central army commander. [5] Before he took office, Emperor Wen said to him gently: "Zhu Maichen once longed to govern his home commandery. Do you feel the same?" He was then made bearer of the staff, pacifying-the-east general, and administrator of Wu commandery, with a suite of martial pipes and drums. As he set out for his post the emperor's carriage came to the near suburbs to feast and send him off. His home district took it as glory. When his term ended he was recalled as scattered-cavalry regular attendant and central guard commander, keeping his pipes and drums. When Liu Yi rebelled in Dongyang an edict put Yang in command of the river fleet to attack him. After Yi was crushed he was made general who guards the right, retaining his attendant post and pipes and drums. Soon he was sent out as bearer of the staff, pacifying-the-east general, and administrator of Jian'an. In the Guangda era (567) he was dismissed on official grounds, then soon restored as direct-communication scattered-cavalry regular attendant.
9
高宗即位，以瑒功名素著，深委任焉。 太建四年，授都督荊信二州諸軍事、安西將軍、荊州刺史，出鎮公安。 瑒增脩城池，懷服邊遠，為鄰境所憚。 居職六年，又以事免，更為通直散騎常侍。 及吳明徹軍敗呂梁，授使持節、督緣江水陸諸軍事、鎮西將軍，給鼓吹一部。 尋授散騎常侍、都督荊郢巴武湘五州諸軍事、郢州刺史，持節、將軍、鼓吹並如故。 十二年，坐疆埸交通抵罪。
When Emperor Xuan succeeded, Yang's record and fame were already great, and the emperor relied on him heavily. In Taijian year 4 (572) he was made commander of Jing and Xin, pacifying-the-west general and inspector of Jing, and marched out to hold Gong'an. He strengthened walls and moats, won over distant peoples, and neighboring states feared him. After six years in post he was dismissed again on official grounds and returned as direct-communication scattered-cavalry regular attendant. When Wu Mingche was broken at Lüliang he was made bearer of the staff, commander of frontier river and land forces, general who guards the west, with a suite of pipes and drums. Soon he was scattered-cavalry regular attendant, commander of Jing, Ying, Ba, Wu, and Xiang, and inspector of Ying, keeping staff, rank, and pipes and drums. In the twelfth year he was punished for illicit dealings on the border.
10
後主嗣位，復除通直散騎常侍，兼起部尚書。 尋除中護軍，復爵邑，入為度支尚書，領步兵校尉。 俄加散騎常侍，遷侍中、祠部尚書。 後主頻幸其第，及著詩賦述勳德之美，展君臣之意焉。 又為五兵尚書，領右軍將軍，〔六〕侍中如故。 以年老累乞骸骨，優詔不許。 禎明元年卒官，時年七十二。 後主臨哭盡哀，贈護軍將軍，侍中如故，給鼓吹一部，朝服一具，衣一襲，喪事量加資給，諡曰桓子。 〔七〕
When the Last Emperor succeeded he was again made direct-communication scattered-cavalry regular attendant and concurrent minister for founding works. Soon he was made central guard commander with rank and fief restored, then minister of revenue and leader of the footsoldiers commandant. Before long he was added scattered-cavalry regular attendant, then made palace attendant and minister of the ancestral temples. The Last Emperor often visited his house and wrote poems and rhapsodies praising his merit, showing the warmth between throne and subject. He was again made minister of the five arms and leader of the right army general, [6] retaining his palace attendant post. Age wore on him and he repeatedly asked leave to retire; gracious edicts refused. In the first year of Zhenming (587) he died in office, aged seventy-two. The Last Emperor came in person to mourn with deepest grief. He was posthumously made general who guards the army, palace attendant as before, with pipes and drums, court robes, and a suit of garments; funeral costs were generously supplied; his posthumous title was Huanzi. See editorial note 7.
11
瑒事親以孝聞，於諸弟甚篤睦。 性通泰，有財物散之親友。 其自居處，頗失於奢豪，庭院穿築，極林泉之致，歌鍾舞女，當世罕儔，賓客填門，軒蓋不絕。 及出鎮郢州，乃合十餘船為大舫，於中立亭池，植荷芰，每良辰美景，賓僚並集，泛長江而置酒，亦一時之勝賞焉。 常於山齋設講肆，集玄儒之士，冬夏資奉，為學者所稱。 而處己率易，不以名位驕物。 時興皇寺朗法師該通釋典，〔八〕瑒每造講筵，時有抗論，法侶莫不傾心。 又巧思過人，為起部尚書，軍國器械，多所創立。 有鑒識，男女婚姻，皆擇素貴。 及卒，尚書令江總為其志銘，後主又題銘後四十字，遣左民尚書蔡徵宣敕就宅鐫之。
Yang was known for filial service to his parents and deep affection for his younger brothers. He was open-handed by nature and gave his wealth freely to kin and friends. His own household leaned toward luxury: courtyards were terraced into gardens to the limit of woodland and spring beauty; singing bells and dancing girls were seldom matched in the age; guests packed his gate and fine carriages never stopped coming. When he held Yingzhou he lashed more than ten boats into a great barge with a pavilion and pool inside and lotus planted about it. On fair days he gathered guests and officers, floated the long Yangzi with wine set out—a wonder of the age. He often held a lecture hall in his mountain retreat, gathered learned men, and supported them winter and summer; scholars praised him for it. Yet in his own bearing he was plain and never looked down on others because of rank. Master Lang of Xinghuang Temple had mastered the Buddhist canon. [8] Whenever Yang came to the lecture hall they argued points, and the monastic community hung on his words. His ingenuity surpassed others. As minister for founding works he devised much of the army's and state's equipment. He had a keen eye; for his children's marriages he always chose families of quiet distinction. When he died, Secretariat Director Jiang Zong wrote his epitaph. The Last Emperor added forty characters of his own and sent Left Household Minister Cai Zheng with an edict to carve them at Yang's house.
12
其詞曰：「秋風動竹，煙水驚波。 幾人樵徑，何處山阿？ 今時日月，宿昔綺羅。 天長路遠，地久雲多。 功臣未勒，此意如何？」 時論以為榮。
The text runs: "Autumn wind stirs the bamboo; misted waters startle the waves. How many men on the woodcutters' path—where is that mountain slope? Today's sun and moon—the brocade and gauze of nights gone by. Heaven is long and the road far; earth endures and clouds are many. Merit not yet carved in stone—what shall we make of this heart?" Men of the time took it as glory.
13
瑒二十一子，咸有父風。 世子讓，早卒。 第二子訓，頗知名，歷臨湘令，直閤將軍、高唐太守。 陳亡入隋。
Yang had twenty-one sons, each with his father's bearing. The heir Rang died young. The second son Xun won some fame as magistrate of Linxiang, direct-gate general, and administrator of Gaotang. When Chen fell he entered Sui service.
14
【評】
Appraisal
15
史臣曰：在梁之季，寇賊寔繁，高祖建義杖旗，將寧區夏，裴忌早識攀附，每預戎麾，〔摧〕鋒卻敵，〔九〕立功者數矣。 孫瑒有文武幹略、見知時主，及行軍用兵，師司馬之法，至於戰勝攻取，屢著勳庸，加以好施接物，士咸慕向。 然性不循恆，頻以罪免，蓋亦陳湯之徒焉。
The historiographer writes: In Liang's last years rebels swarmed. The Founder raised the banner of righteousness to pacify the realm. Pei Ji saw early whom to follow and was ever in the field, [smashing] the enemy's van and driving them back [9] again and again. Sun Yang had civil and military talent and won his sovereign's trust. In command he followed the marshal's art; in battle he took cities and won repeated glory. He was generous and approachable, and soldiers admired him. Yet he was not steady by nature and was often dismissed for fault—perhaps a man in Chen Tang's mold.
16
校勘記
Collation notes
17
〔二〕父循道「循」南史作「修」。
On "father Xundao": the Southern Dynasties history reads Xiu for Xun.
18
〔三〕徵瑒為太府卿「太府卿」南史作「少府卿」，通鑑陳武帝永定三年同。
On "summoned Yang as minister of the grand storehouse": the Southern Dynasties history reads minister of the lesser storehouse; the Comprehensive Mirror, Chen Wudi Yongding year 3, agrees.
19
〔五〕徵為散騎常侍中領軍南史作「徵為侍中、領軍將軍」。
On "summoned as scattered cavalry regular attendant and central army commander": the Southern Dynasties history reads summoned as palace attendant and army commander.
20
〔六〕領右軍將軍「右」南史作「左」。
On "concurrently right army general": the Southern Dynasties history reads left for right.
21
〔七〕諡曰桓子張森楷校勘記云「子」字衍。 今按：瑒初封定襄縣侯，太建十二年坐疆埸交通抵罪免，後主嗣位，又復侯爵，此作「子」不合，張說是。
On "posthumous title Huan-zi": Zhang Senkai's collation note holds that zi is superfluous. Present review: Yang was first made marquis of Dingxiang; in Taijian year 12 he lost his title for frontier dealings; when Houzhu succeeded he regained the marquisate—so zi here is wrong; Zhang is right.
22
〔八〕時興皇寺朗法師該通釋典「朗法師」元龜八二一作「慧朗法師」。
On "Master Lang of Xinghuang Monastery, thoroughly versed in the Buddhist canon": Yuan Gui 821 reads Master Huilang.
23
〔九〕 （推） 〔摧〕鋒卻敵據北監本、汲本、殿本改。
Collation note nine. (Tui) On "[crush] the vanguard and repel the enemy": emended per the Northern Supervisory, Ji, and Hall editions.